Sunday, March 11, 2012

Mastery of Design: The Tiffany & Co. Archaeological Pendant, 1880

Necklace and Pendant
Tiffany & Co, 1880
The Victoria & Albert Museum


In the late Nineteenth Century, across the U.S. and Europe, jewelry designers turned to the styles of the Ancients, basing new creations on then-recent archaeological discoveries.  One of the first firms to do this was the Italian Castellani family.
Other designers quickly followed suit.  This example comes from America and is the work of Tiffany & Co.  Dating to about 1880, this gold necklace and pendant was inspired by Roman and Etruscan jewelry.  Part of a suite, this necklace was accompanied by matching earrings.




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